Highest PZS Awards Presented

The highest PZS awards are an expression of respect for dedicated mountain volunteers


The Slovenian Alpine Association (PZS) each year expresses respect to individuals with its highest awards for long-term dedicated voluntary work in various areas of mountain activities, both in local and broader social environments. At the ceremonial presentation in Slovenska Bistrica on December 3, it awarded solemn certificates of PZS to 11 deserving individuals, commemorative plaques of PZS to 22 mountaineers on life jubilees, and five awards from the PZS leadership for special achievements.

The highest PZS awards are a modest attention and the only reward that the mountain organization can give to deserving individuals for their long-term voluntary work in various areas of mountain activities. "These awards are a reflection of respect for your efforts and endeavors in parent societies and PZS bodies, which you have incorporated into the mosaic of your work over decades. As volunteers, you have done exceptional work in various fields for the expansion of mountaineering in Slovenia and each marked it in your own way. All of you and each one of you have contributed an important share to the growth of Slovenian mountaineering and thus become the best example for younger generations. May the feeling that gives greatness to all great personalities from history fill you upon receiving the award — pride and relief that something has remained after each of you that is not tied to the material world of consumerism," wrote PZS Vice President Jožef Bobovnik in the bulletin.



At the presentation, which the Alpine Association organized together with the Mountaineering Society (PD) Slovenska Bistrica and the Municipality of Slovenska Bistrica, speakers included PZS President Jože Rovan, Deputy Mayor of the Municipality of Slovenska Bistrica Žarko Furman, President of OKS-ZŠZ Bogdan Gabrovec, President of PD Slovenska Bistrica Breda Jurič, and Chairman of the PZS Membership Committee Tone Jesenko.

Recipients of the highest awards of the Slovenian Alpine Association for 2022


Recipients of the SOLEMN CERTIFICATES OF PZS, the highest awards of the Slovenian Alpine Association, for 2022 are:


FRANC KOCBEK (PD Miklavž) for long-term work in the Management Board of Maribor Matica, leading the excursion section and activities in the Miklavž and Dobrovce kindergartens. In 2003, Franc was the initiator for the establishment of the Mountaineering Society Miklavž and is still its president.


FRANC ERLAH (PD Srednja vas v Bohinju) for leading the propaganda and later youth section; for more than thirty years he was the head of the economic section, participated in the construction of the Hut in Voje, the making of log cabins on Rudno polje, the construction of sewage treatment plants and auxiliary facilities at huts.


ALEŠ ERJAVEC (PD Polž Višnja Gora) for extensive and persistent work in the society, which he has led for the last nineteen years; at the same time, he is a mountain guide with a great ear for work with youth. Under his leadership, the society has been preparing the now traditional Jurčič hike for many years.


ANTON KREŠEVEC (PD Ajdovščina) for long-term, tireless work as a mountain guide, who prepares excursions for adults and children, whom he also accompanies at camps. Anton continuously cooperates with border mountaineering societies and due to his long-term work in mountaineering, he is called the elder of Ajdovščina guiding.


ROZALIJA LUBI (PD Ljutomer) for diligent work in the mountaineering society, which she presided over for two terms and for long-term dedicated work with children with special needs at the Primary School in Ljutomer. Mountain education and activity in nature had great importance in the development of these children.


DRAGO DRETNIK (PD Mežica) for long-term activity in the economic commission in the parent society and in PZS. He dealt mainly with the management of mountain huts. Drago was a long-term member of the hut commission and the Association of Alpine Organizations of the Alpine Arc. He was the initiator for the establishment of the "Environmentally Friendly Mountain Hut" certificate.


JANEZ BRINAR (PD Kum Trbovlje) for long-term very diverse work in the society; he was a member of the management board, head of the youth and economic section, fifteen years president of the society, leader of the group of older mountaineers and president of the honorary tribunal; Janez was also active in the Inter-Society Committee of Zasavje and for a few years a member of the Economic Commission at the Slovenian Alpine Association.


BOJAN GORJUP (PD Trbovlje) for long-term work in the society's management board, for work as secretary, vice president of the society, president of the supervisory board, for help in leading the excursion and youth section, he is a member of the subcommittee for awards at PZS.


MARIJA LESJAK (PD Vinska Gora) for long-term work as secretary, trail marker, mountain guide, guardian of mountain nature and leader of the mountain circle at primary school. 32 years ago, she was one of the founding members of the society. Marija is a mentor of the Hiking circle at the University of the Third Age.


FRANC VAHTER (PD Slovenske Konjice) for work as vice president and president of the society, he is the initiator for marking the path to Stolpnik and building the tower there, helped in arranging mountain paths, led young mountaineers around the surrounding hills and last but not least is the founder of the group of older mountaineers.


MARKO GORŠIČ (PD Podpeč-Preserje) for alpine achievements and for work as an instructor of movement in mountains and alpinism. Marko is a founding member and long-term president of the society. He is the driving force of the society, which organized many excursions and youth camps. The renovation of the hut on Krim took place under his leadership. For ten years he was president of the Inter-Society Committee of Notranjska, for several years a member of the economic commission at PZS and last but not least vice president of the association.

COMMEMORATIVE PLAQUES OF PZS, which the Slovenian Alpine Association awards on life jubilees to its most deserving members for their long-term loyal and exceptionally successful work, were received by:



For 65 years:

DANILO VERZELAK (PD Šmartno ob Paki) for long-term membership in the management board, organizer of society excursions and for several years leading the mountain circle at primary school,

MARKO MIKELJ (PD Srednja vas v Bohinju) for work as mountain guide, trail marker, head of the marking section and for care of mountain paths,

DUŠAN KLINAR (PD Javornik - Koroška Bela) for work in the marking section and work as manager of the Valentin Stanič Home,

MARJETA BRICL (PD Kum Trbovlje) for work as secretary, head of the hiking section. Since 2009, she has successfully presided over the mountaineering society.



For 70 years:

ZDENKA VERZELAK (PD Šmartno ob Paki) for the initiative to establish a new mountaineering society, she was its first president, for leading the mountain circle at school and for obtaining documentation for Martin's path.

IVAN ČUFER (PD Podbrdo) for a lot of work done in building the freight cable car to Črna prst, he has always been a member, instructor and rescuer-flyer of the Tolmin Mountain Rescue Service.

BRANKO KLINAR (PD Jesenice) for work in the mountaineering society in several areas, he has eternally inscribed himself in alpinism and consequently became a member of the Jesenice Mountain Rescue Service.

ALOJZ HRIBERŠEK (PD Kum Trbovlje) for long-term membership in the society's management board, for work as mountain guide, trail marker, for leading trail markers, for good management in the hut on Kum and for work as society flag bearer.

SILVESTER ČREPINŠEK (PD Šempeter v Savinjski dolini) for safe guiding of mountaineers on mountain paths, for marking and maintaining paths and for protection of mountain nature. Silvester is a founding member of the mountaineering society and its president since 1996.

MILAN AŠENBERGER (PD Galicija) for work in the mountaineering society, which ranges from several years presiding over the society to long-term membership in the management board and work in the hut on Šentjungert, where he occasionally duties with his wife.

STANISLAV PLEVNIK (PD Slovenj Gradec) for work as mountain guide with an exceptional sense for guiding, for work as a member of the economic commission in the society and for a very dedicated manager of the Hut under Kremžarjev vrh.

ZDRAVKO KLINER (PD Ljubno ob Savinji) for long-term membership in various bodies of the mountaineering society, for always participating in work actions, especially in the construction of the hut on Travnik.



For 75 years:

JANEZ KOSEC (PD Janez Trdina Mengeš) for establishing and leading the alpine section, for work in the economic section and in the society's management board.

DANIELA FUX (PD Brežice) for work as mentor to the mountain group at the local primary school, for work in the management board, for several years work as vice president of the society and for leading two mountain schools for adults and for organizing mountain evenings.



For 80 years:

FRIDERIK ŽAGAR (PD Slivnica pri Celju) for long-term work as mountain guide, for leading the guiding section, participating in organizing mountain events in the local environment.

MARJAN FABIANI (PD Križe) for long-term work in the management board, for work with youth, for leading excursions and for help in building the hut on Kriška gora and the Shelter on Gozd.

JOŽE ČEBAŠEK (PD Dovje - Mojstrana) for work in the economic committee, where he was responsible for managing the Aljaž Home in Vrata for many years.

MILENA JESENKO (PD Brežice) for connecting primary school children with mountaineering, she has always been organizer, scriptwriter and director of events under the society's auspices.

MARIJA SMOLEJ (PD Litija) for more than three decades co-shaping mountain camps; for the same length of time, she and her husband took care of the visual design of the monthly bulletin of the Mountaineering Society.

MARIJAN POPIČ (PD Slovenj Gradec) for a lot of well-done work on both mountain huts, as well as in arranging mountain paths.

RAJMUND ČERIN (Obalno PD Koper) for work as mountain guide; his most recognizable is his daily care for the Tumova hut on Slavnik.



For 90 years

CIRIL KUNST senior (PD Rečica ob Savinji) for eleven years presiding over the society; he is credited that the society then got a coat of arms, they unfurled a banner, established a circle at primary school.

Awards from the leadership of the Slovenian Alpine Association for special achievements in 2022, awarded by the PZS presidency, were received by:

MATEJA UDOVČ - golden honorary badge for contribution to changing the Law on Mountain Paths, which she proposed as the first-signed deputy in the National Assembly, ardently advocated it and thus significantly contributed to its adoption,

JURIJ RAVNIK (Športnoplezalno društvo Plezarna) - golden honorary badge for exceptional organizational work in the field of equipping climbing areas and for professional coaching work with the para-national team in sport climbing,

ANDREJ STRITAR - golden honorary badge for exceptional contribution in the field of cartography of the Slovenian Alpine Association, on the basis of which the Alpine Publishing House today issues quality printed maps with regularly updated content,

FRANC GRIČAR - golden honorary badge with thanks for long-term successful leadership of the Guiding Commission of the Slovenian Alpine Association and for his great contribution in the field of training guides,

dr. JURE KREJAN ČOKL - commendation for the doctoral thesis titled Social Significance and Media Image of Slovenian Women's Alpinism between 1945 and 1965.

We sincerely thank all award recipients for their diligent work in the mountain organization and heartily congratulate them!